EU leaders snub Euro 2012 finals due to Ukraine's human rights row

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Updated 1058 GMT (1758 HKT) May 2, 2012

EU leaders snub Euro 2012 over Ukraine human rights row6 photos

Tymoshenko imprisoned – Former Ukraine prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko is serving a seven-year jail sentence for abuse of office and faces another trial on tax evasion charges. The 51-year-old displays bruises she claims were inflicted by prison guards. Government officials deny the claims.

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EU leaders snub Euro 2012 over Ukraine human rights row6 photos

Devastated family rallies – Tymoshenko's husband Oleksander and daughter Yevgenia hold a news conference to rally support. Yevgenia claims her mother's life is in danger since starting a hunger strike more than a week ago.

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EU leaders snub Euro 2012 over Ukraine human rights row6 photos

The people's PM? – A police guard stands outside Tymoshenko's cell at the Kachanivska prison in Kharkiv. Her supporters have called on president Victor Yanukovych to quit in the wake of allegations of abuse.

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EU leaders snub Euro 2012 over Ukraine human rights row6 photos

A divisive figure – Thousands of supporters and opponents rallied outside Tymoshenko's latest court hearing in Kharkiv on April 28. The mixed turnout shows how divisive Tymoshenko still remains in Ukraine after a spell in government that began with hopes of pro-Western reforms and ended with allegations of corruption.

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EU leaders snub Euro 2012 over Ukraine human rights row6 photos

Bombs blast Ukraine – Police experts examine one of the explosion sites in Dnipropetrovsk, where four bombs were let off in rubbish bins on Friday. At least 30 people were injured, raising serious concerns over safety at next month's European Championships.

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EU leaders snub Euro 2012 over Ukraine human rights row6 photos

Under-fire Yanukovych – Pressure is mounting on president Viktor Yankovych to clean up the country's human rights record. Following last week's bomb blasts, UEFA took the unprecedented step of raising political concerns with the host country.

Story highlights

He is latest EU leader refusing to travel to Ukraine over its treatment of imprisoned Yulia Tymoshenko

Ukraine suffering series of upsets including "crook" hoteliers, bombings and snubs

Govt assures UEFA it is taking all necessary steps to ensure safety of 1.3m visitors

Pressure is mounting on Ukraine to clean up its human rights record ahead of the Euro 2012 finals next month, with the EU Commission's president the latest high-profile leader to boycott the football championships.

Just weeks before the tournament kicks off, president Jose Manuel Barroso has rejected an invitation to attend the final in Kiev -- citing concerns over the treatment of imprisoned opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.

"The president has decided that for the time being and in the present circumstances he doesn't want to travel to or attend any events in Ukraine," his spokeswoman told CNN on Tuesday.

She confirmed this was due to concerns over the treatment of former prime minister Tymoshenko, and added: "The EU and president Barroso have sent strong signals of their serious concerns over what is happening in Ukraine."

Photos emerged on Friday of Tymoshenko covered in bruises which the 51-year-old claims that prison guards inflicted. Officials have denied the allegations.

Tymoshenko, a fierce rival of president Victor Yanukovych, is serving a seven-year jail sentence for abuse of office and faces another trial on tax evasion charges.

UEFA's fight against racism 5 photos

UEFA's fight against racism5 photos

Proper punishment? – Porto's fine after its fans made monkey chants at Manchester City's Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure was less than the English club's punishment for being late on the field in another match.

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UEFA's fight against racism5 photos

Taking a stand – European football's ruling body UEFA has run a "Unite Against Racism" campaign in recent years.

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UEFA's fight against racism5 photos

Messi's message – Three-time world player of the year Lionel Messi with a mascot wearing an anti-racism shirt ahead of Barcelona's UEFA Champions League match against Czech team Viktoria Plzen in October 2011.

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UEFA's fight against racism5 photos

Manchester City united – Manchester City took part in the campaign in 2009 when its players and mascots wore Unite Against Racism t-shirts for a home match against Polish club Lech Poznan.

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UEFA's fight against racism5 photos

Stadium presence – UEFA has worked closely with the group Football Against Racism in Europe since 2001. FARE members will be patrolling matches at the Euro 2012 finals looking for evidence of racist behavior.

European leaders have continued to turn their backs on the June 8-July 1 event, which will be co-hosted by Poland, with the EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding also refusing to travel to the Ukraine.

German chancellor Angela Merkel is reportedly considering missing the tournament, with any such visit depending on Tymoshenko's release. Her environment minister Nobert Rottgen has already urged Berlin government ministers to boycott matches.

Neither Ukraine nor Poland have previously hosted such a top-level sports event, which is run by European football's governing body UEFA.

UEFA president Michael Platini last month complained of "crooks and bandits" hiking hotel rates in Ukraine, while last Friday bombings in the city of Dnipropetrovsk raised security fears ahead of the tournament.

At least 30 people were injured, but the Ukraine government has assured UEFA it was taking "all necessary steps" to ensure the safety of around 1.3 million fans expected to watch 16 national teams go head-to-head.

No-one has claimed responsibility for the bombs, which were placed in four rubbish bins and exploded at short intervals, but some reports linked them to protests against Tymonshenko's treatment.

The attacks cast further doubt over Ukraine's's ability to stage such an event, and UEFA has taken the unprecedented step of raising political concerns with the East European nation.

"Even though UEFA, as a sports organization, never interferes in political matters, it has asked the Ukrainian delegation to convey these concerns to the competent authorities," it said.